Press Release

Whitehall – Judge John A. Damon announced that the Trempealeau
County Drug Court received a check for $10,000 from Attorney General
J.B. Van Hollen this week. The funds were from a Department of
Justice settlement in a class action suit involving a vitamins price
fixing conspiracy.

Judge Damon said the funds will be used by the Drug court to expand
drug treatment options and to provide for testing community based
options for offenders. The Drug Court team will continue to discuss
uses at future meetings. On behalf of the Trempealeau County Drug
Court Judge Damon expressed his gratitude to Attorney General J.B.
Van Hollen. “We appreciate the support and commitment to
alternatives for offenders the Attorney General has provided. This
money is a real shot in the arm for our drug court,” said Judge
Damon.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2010

JUDGE DAMON REPORTS ON 2009
STATISTICS

WHITEHALL, WISCONSIN-- Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge
John Damon has released 2009 statistics for the Community Work
Service program, Small Claims Mediation program and the Teen Court
program. “We’re fortunate that in this small rural community of
Trempealeau County, we have these programs and alternatives to
jail.”

Last year, 144 offenders provided more than 3,798 hours of
community work service to the citizens of Trempealeau County.
Community work service was performed for many non-profit locations,
including schools, churches, libraries, recycling centers, nursing
homes, governmental agencies, and civic organizations throughout
Trempealeau County. This program also provides the county savings in
jail expenses as well. In most cases where community work service is
ordered in this county, the Court provides that the ordered jail
days are stayed upon the satisfactory completion of community work
service. Last year, 316 jail days were saved because of community
work service completion, providing substantial savings to the
residents of Trempealeau County.

In 2009, there were 146 cases referred to small claims court
volunteer mediators, and 74 of those cases were settled the day of
mediation. And even when the cases are not settled at the initial
mediation time, the process of having the parties sit down together
to discuss the dispute usually leads to the matter being settled
before being scheduled before the Court. This volunteer program is
valuable because it saves taxpayer money by freeing up the court
calendar to allow other cases to be heard in a more timely manner.
It also allows the parties to tailor a solution to their dispute
that is mutually agreed upon, which is of benefit to both the
parties.

Trempealeau County Teen Court was established in 1997 and has
heard over 200 cases in that time. Seventeen of those referrals were
from 2009 with offenses ranging from disorderly conduct to
possession of tobacco to truancy. Teen Court accepts first time
offenders from the ages of 10 years to 17 years old. The juveniles
going through Teen Court had to write reports, apology letters, and
make good on any harm they had done. In 2009 they completed 45 hours
of community service. Of those teens completing Teen Court only one
re-entered the system. The judges are area teens from all seven
school districts while serving in their capacity as Teen Court
Judges completed 80 hours of service.

“These programs are just a few innovative ways that the Court and
Trempealeau County are addressing some of the issues that it faces,”
Judge Damon said. If you have any community work service sites or
project suggestions, or would be interested in volunteering for the
small claims court mediation program you can contact Court Services
at 715-538-2311 ext. 322 or 264 for more information. [END]

"We
are fortunate that Attorney Feltes agreed to accept this appointment
", stated Judge Damon. "He brings great experience and
intellect to this position." Damon added.

Charles V. Feltes is a 1969 graduate of University of Wisconsin -
River Falls. In 1973 he received his law degree from the
University of Illinois. Since 1976 he has practiced law in
Osseo, Wisconsin. He is formerly a partner of the law firm of
Kostner, Ward & Koslo. He is a former president of the Osseo
Commercial Club and the Tri-County Bar Association. In his
career, Charles has been the city attorney for the cities of Osseo
and Augusta, as well as the Village Attorney for Fall Creek.

Charles has donated his
time and talents to numerous community organizations. He did
the legal work to organize the Osseo Area Economic Development
Corporation, Osseo Community Foundation, the Osseo-Fairchild Public
Educational Foundation and Lake Martha Days, Inc. as
non-profit organizations. In addition, he did the title work
in relation to Osseo's Little League baseball fields. He is
presently the secretary and a board member of the Osseo Area
Economic Development Corporation and the Osseo Community Foundation.

Since 1995 Charles as been
a sole practitioner with his office in downtown Osseo. He is a
general practitioner with emphasis in real estate, family law,
business law, and litigation of all types.

For the last 34 years he
has been married to his wife, Susan, who is the secretary at the
Osseo-Fairchild Elementary School. Susan and Charles have four
children.

Charles is a member of the
St. Raymond's Catholic Church in Brackett, Wisconsin. He has
served on various committees for the church and has donated his
legal expertise when needed. he is a member of the Knights of
Columbus. During the Knight's Lenten fish fries, he cooks the
beans. (green and baked).